Hairopoulos: Reversed ruling keeps boxer Errol Spence’s dream alive

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Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer

USA's Errol Spence connects with India's Krishan Vikas face in the men's welter (69kg) round of 16 boxing match at the ExCeL South Arena 2 at the London 2012 Olympics on Friday, August 3, 2012 in London. Vikas defeated Spence with a score of 13-11.

LONDON — The scene that best captures the utter confusion and grief DeSoto boxer Errol Spence Jr. experienced Friday night, though it ultimately ended with the best kind of relief, took place a minute after his Olympic welterweight bout with India’s Krishan Vikas.

When the referee pulled the boxers on either side of him as the decision was announced, he mistakenly lifted Spence’s blue-gloved arm in victory. He then quickly switched arms, lifting up Vikas’ red glove, coinciding with the called victor.

Spence looked stunned and wiped his eyes.

But the disappointment wouldn’t last. USA Boxing appealed the original 13-11 decision that gave third-seeded Vikas the win. In a reversal stunning for its swiftness and justice, the International Amateur Boxing Association adjusted the score to 15-13 in favor of Spence, who will face Russia’s Andrey Zamkovoy in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, with the winner qualifying for the medal round.

“I am obviously thrilled that the competition jury overturned my decision and I can continue chasing the gold medal I came here to win,” Spence said in a statement released by USA Boxing. “I am going to make the most of this second chance that I’ve been given. I can’t wait to get back in that ring on Tuesday.”

Here’s how the reversal took place. Even while Spence met with the media, saying all the right things, and shared consoling hugs with his parents, believing his amateur career over, USA Boxing filed an appeal within 30 minutes of the bout.

Once it was submitted, the jury first had to decide whether to accept the protest as worth hearing. Just as Spence left the ExCel Arena for the athletes’ village, he knew it would be reviewed. The USA Boxing staff remained behind, waiting for about an hour, close to midnight, until they heard the news. Spence was back in the tournament.

Assistant coach Charles Leverette called Spence and gave him the good news.

According to a news release by USA Boxing, the competition jury found fault with referee Lars Brovil of Denmark and awarded an additional four points to Spence’s total. It ruled the Vikas had committed nine holding fouls in the third round alone, though he received only one caution.

In the second round, with 22 seconds left and being pummeled by Spence, Vikas intentionally spit out his mouth guard, though he received no warning because Brovil’s view was blocked, the statement said.

But the most important line is this: “The protest is accepted and the winner of Bout #142 is Errol Spence (USA).”

The fight played out in frustrating, if not unexpected for amateur boxing, style for Spence, 22. Vikas landed a few hits in the first round, then largely covered up for the final two rounds. Spence attacked throughout the three minutes of each round.

Down 4-2 after the first, Spence made up ground in the second. He’d popped Vikas with a combination when Vikas spit his mouthpiece out. Vikas led 9-8 going into the third.

After the fighters traded shots in the final 30 seconds, no result seemed obvious, given the scoring. Spence high-fived his coaches during the wait for the announcement, expected to be close. Then came the bewilderment.

From defeated in the Olympics to moving on to the quarterfinals, Spence experienced a dramatic range of emotions Friday. He is the only U.S. boxer remaining in the draw, and if he loses Tuesday, the Americans will be left without a medal.

But he fully believed his run had ended Friday.

“I thought I won the fight,” he said soon after, calm and matter-of-fact like usual. “I thought I threw more punches and landed more shots and was the more aggressive boxer. The coaches and the crowd thought I won too. But the judges didn’t think I won, so it’s not up to me.”

U.S. coach Basheer Abdullah said he thought Spence had done enough for the decision but was still nervous about the result.

“We’ve got to question the integrity of our sport sometime,” he said. “Errol’s, I was very disappointed to hear that decision … Errol fought his heart out. Errol competed to win.”

Meanwhile, Spence had despaired over letting down his family and friends back home. His parents consoled him with all the right words. “You’re a champ,” Debra, his mom, told him.

Maybe she knows what she’s talking about. Because, after all this, Spence is still fighting.

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